How
To Give A Sermonette Study No. 228

Purpose of Sermonette

B.To
settle the congregation and get minds off the physical and onto the spiritual.

C. To prepare congregation for the sermon.

D. To edify congregation on a limited subject.

E. To provide leadership training for local men while serving the
congregation.

Length of Sermonettes

A. 10-12
minutes is a good length for a sermonette, and 15 minutes should be the
maximum.

Preparation

A. Stay close to God.

1. Set
schedule to pray three times a day.

2. Be
studying Bible every day

3. Meditate
on what you study.

4. Fast
regularly.

B. Remember that you are using important time of
many people; do not waste that time by doing a poor job.

C. Remember that the truth of God is a precious
commodity and must not be used haphazardly or without proper thought or skill (II
Timothy 2:15; II Peter 3:16).

D. Reminder: The job a speaker does — good or bad
— reflects upon him and will enhance or deter from his effectiveness with the
congregation in other areas as well.

E. Be filled with your subject.

F. Be sermonette conscious — always looking for
good ideas.

G. Keep a file for examples and ideas.

H. Read good books/articles regularly.

I. Keep up on world news.

J. Always keep in mind that a sermonette is not
just between you and the con­gregation — God
is present!

Selecting a Topic

A.Giving
a good sermonette takes a lot of humility. It is NOT your purpose to “save” the
congregation in 12 minutes.

B.Major
problem with sermonettes — too broad. Choose a topic that can be covered
in 10-12 minutes.

C.The
best sermonettes are built from the Scriptures out, not from the ideas
and opinions of our own heads!

D. Narrow down, narrow down! Don’t try to squeeze a sermon into a
sermonette! A sermonette is not a
little sermon; it is unique.

E.A
good rule of thumb is to use three Scriptures. Using more is an indication that
the topic is too broad. Use Scriptures that best relate to your topic and tie them in. Expound and show why they are relevant.

F. Don’t pick a corrective subject. It is simply not your job to correct
the congregation, regardless of how strong­ly you might feel about some­thing.

G.Don’t
come up with a new topic that you have not heard expounded before or one that
is speculative (it may be heresy!).

H. Don’t pick a sensitive or controversial subject or
one that might offend people. To do so
is, again, a sign of a lack of humility!

H. Try to choose a sermonette topic from one of the following
categories.

1. Difficult
scripture explanation. Here are
some examples:

a. I
Timothy 4:4 — Does this justify eating unclean meats?

b. Luke
17:21 — Does this show the KOG to be something merely “in the hearts of
men?”

c. Acts
10:12-13 — Does this allow the eating of unclean animals?

d. Proverbs
26:4, 5 — Do these verses contradict each other?

2. Instructive.

a. How
to use Festival Tithe.

b. How
to take good notes in services.

c. How to listen
effectively.

3. Expound a
parable or proverb.

4. Exhortative
— give encourage­ment to apply some principle, or to correct a minor
problem. Be careful here — you don’t
have much time, so it’s easier to offend people in a short message.

a. Be on time to
services.

b. Teach
your children to re­joice on God’s Sabbath.

c. Get
your prayer and study in at the Feast.

5. Give
a variety of types of sermon­ettes. Don’t get into a rut.

Organization of a Sermonette

A. SPS — After deciding on a topic, write out the Specific Purpose Statement,
which states the one point that you want to get across to
your audience. This should be the first
step in developing your subject.

B. It’s important to organize your sermon­ette something close to
what is sug­gested below — where you actually write down on paper the SPS —
Introduction — Body (in three points, with supporting Scriptures) — Conclusion,
developed in the order described below.

C. Introduction

1. Make
sure it relates to your main point in such a way that it logically leads
to the SPS.

2. It
should grab the audience’s attention and make them want to listen.

3. Some
types of effective intro­ductions are:

a. Use
a short anecdote or cite a recent happening or news event.

b. Give
some startling facts or figures.

c. Ask
a moving question or questions.

d. Present
a challenge.

D. Body

1. In
a sermonette, the body should consist of only a few (1-3) points or thoughts
that are part of the main point.

2. All
points or thoughts should be organized in a logical manner (such as
chronologically, historically or geogra­phically) and be of the same type and
of the same general weight or importance.

3. Remember
that the basis of your message should be the Bible, and not outside
material such as poetry, psy­chology, philosophy, “success” litera­ture or, especially,
your own pet ideas. Of course, some outside research material or supporting
quotes can be proper in balance.

E. Conclusion

1. Summarize
by giving the SPS in different words or by phrasing it differently.

2. Make
an appeal for action on the exhortation or instructions you have given.

3. Plan your last
sentence. Memorize it if necessary.

Delivery of the Sermonette or Sermon

A. Be warm and friendly.

B. Show zeal and interest by being lively and enthusiastic.

C. Use intensity to drive home a point, but don’t
overdo it or be artificial.

G. Always remember the purpose of the sermonette.
You can’t “save” the congregation in 10-12 minutes.

Conclusion

A. Remember that speaking to God’s people during Sabbath services is a
wonderful opportunity and a great responsibility that must be taken
seriously. Of ourselves, we are not equipped nor qualified to teach God’s
people. But He is. And if we humble ourselves and draw close to Him, and
cry out for more of His Spirit, His mind, His thoughts, and His views, He will
give us what we need to effectively serve and teach His people.

B. With proper preparation and delivery, a sermonette or sermon in
the hands of a skillful person, led by God’s Spirit and armed with His perfect
truth, can indeed be like “apples of gold in pictures of silver,” Proverbs
25:11.

— by Glen Gilchrist, Area
Pastor, Living Church of God Ω

Additional Information

Our article, “How to
Prepare, Conduct, and Participate in, Group Bible Studies,” #138, provides
additional helps for teaching God’s Word.
You may view it on the Internet at www.giveshare.org/BibleStudy/138.biblestudies.html,
or write us for a free copy.